About Dona Stover, LCSW

A woman with blonde hair smiling outdoors, wearing a gray sweater, pink vest, necklace, and smartwatch, standing on a path with trees and a fence in the background.
A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a bright yellow T-shirt with cursive writing, sitting on a patterned sofa in a cozy living room. Behind her are framed wall art, a black bookshelf, and a wicker basket.
A cozy living room with two gray sofas, a round coffee table, a large floor lamp, a black entertainment unit with electronics and decor, framed landscape photographs on the wall, a potted plant, and curtains covering a window.
A cozy living room with large windows, a dark gray couch with patterned pillows, a black armchair, and a matching black ottoman. There are various lamps, artwork on the walls, and a black bookshelf with decor and books. The room has a patterned black and white rug and plants near the windows.
Brick building with large glass windows and a door with a blue and white striped awning, parking lot in front, surrounded by trees.

Welcome! I’m Dona – a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Virginia. I have been working in the mental health field since 1994. Since that time I have worked in a variety of settings to include psychiatric acute inpatient treatment units, residential treatment units, community mental health case management, intensive in-home therapy services, outpatient therapy, and crisis response and stabilization. I have held positions of direct service, supervisory, managerial, and administrative in both the private and public realms of mental health practice. All of these environments provided me with opportunities to learn and grow as a mental health provider.

I believe everyone has the ability to make positive change in their life when given the opportunity to do so.

I have been an outpatient therapist since 2018 and have had the privilege of walking beside my clients as they worked their way thru grief, anxiety, depression, and trauma.

I have completed EMDR Training I & II as well as Cognitive Processing Therapy.  Both of these approaches to therapy have been shown to be effective in addressing and managing the symptoms to PTSD.

I am trained in Exposure Response Prevention Therapy , the most recommended evidence based approach to treating OCD, and am currently working toward certification and to expand my knowledge of this approach to therapy in order to further assist my clients who present with OCD.

My clients describe me as authentic, understanding, patient, and nonjudgemental. My clients feel validated when working with me. I strive to ensure you leave our session having learned something of value, feel honored in your journey, and having felt heard. 

Qualifications:

BA Human Services & Psychology – Virginia Wesleyan College

Master in Social Work – Norfolk State University

Board of Social Work License# 0904010797 Issued November 2018

ERP Certification completed September 2022, Cognitive Behavior Institute, Philadelphia, PA

Behavior Therapy Training Institute attended November 2024, International OCD Foundation

Advanced Forum on Pediatric OCD, International OCD Foundation, October 2025

 

Member of:

National Association of Social Workers

International OCD Foundation

My Mission

The mission of Rise Counseling Services is to provide strength-based & wellness focused therapy services to individuals who are encountering life’s challenges.

I utilize a blend of CBT, Problem Solving Skills, Solution Focused Therapy, EMDR, and Mindfulness to help you improve your ability to manage difficulties, challenge the thought processes that create stress in your life, and process the negative experiences that have impacted how you live your life today.